COLUMBUS, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine has a big decision to make about who will represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate, with Vice President-Elect JD Vance soon to take his oath of office.

What You Need To Know

  • Gov. Mike DeWine is tasked with appointing someone to fill the seat Vice President-Elect JD Vance is vacating in the U.S. Senate

  • DeWine has kept his list of potential appointees private 

  • Rumors are circulating around whether Lt. Gov. Jon Husted will receive the appointment

Jon Husted, Ohio’s current lieutenant governor, is a name rumored to be at the top of DeWine’s list of possible appointees for the Senate position.

“I think it’s honestly Jon Husted’s appointment to say whether he wants it or not,” said University of Akron Political Science Professor Dave Cohen.

Tom Sutton, political science professor at Baldwin Wallace University, said Husted is a protege of DeWine.

“I don't think he's necessarily as populist that you would see in some of the MAGA Republicans,” Sutton said. “But definitely something you can straddle that with positions where they do align, particularly on tax policy, regulation, economic development, and of course social conservatism highlighted by the issue of abortion.”

The person DeWine appoints faces both a party primary and general election next year, for Ohioans to make their choice for who they want serving out the remainder of Vance’s term. The seat is again up-for-grabs in 2028.